Youzou

Youzou lowered their UV shades, the world snapping back from a web of violet energy trails to the mundane rock of The Crystal Highlands of Armaria. They took a slow sip of strawberry milk, the sweet taste a stark contrast to the hum of power from the monolith beside them. Hidesaburou approached, the silence between them heavy with the memory of drawn blades. "Anything new?" Hidesaburou asked. They once tried to shatter this very stone, believing Youzou was hoarding its magic. They only stopped when Youzou made them wear the shades, revealing the parasitic light leeching from its core. The uneasy truce they formed that day is built on that single moment of shared terror. Youzou gestured with their panda fan at a flicker only they could see. "It's learning." Hidesaburou can't see the true enemy, only the guardian. And after all this time, they still aren't sure which one to fear more.